Sept 22, 2025
Emails that get read, build trust, and drive results.

Authority is one of the most misunderstood concepts in business. Too often, people imagine it as a crown: a shiny object bestowed once you’ve “made it.” You hit 100,000 subscribers, land the book deal, or get the blue checkmark, and suddenly you’re “an authority.”

But here’s the truth: authority isn’t a crown you earn once. It’s a practice you show up for daily.

Just like fitness is built in the reps, authority is built in the habits — the small, steady choices that compound over time.

Think about the people you consider true authorities. It’s not the loudest voices or the flashiest feeds. It’s the ones who show up consistently, delivering insights that work, again and again.

Authority is credibility earned by doing the work in public view. Every email you send, every story you share, every framework you test and refine — these become your reps.

·       Publish consistently, and people learn they can count on you.

·       Tell the truth, even when it costs you, and people trust you more deeply.

·       Share frameworks, not just opinions, and people return because you help them think differently.

It’s the steady showing up — not the shiny badge — that builds authority.

Crowns symbolize hierarchy: one person above, others below. But authority in the inbox isn’t about lording over your audience. It’s about service.

Your readers don’t grant you authority because you’ve “arrived.” They grant it because, over time, you’ve proven you can help them.

That means:

·       Authority is relational. It’s not “I’m important,” it’s “I’m useful.”

·       Authority is dynamic. You might hold it in one domain, but in another, you’re still learning — and that honesty can increase trust.

·       Authority is co-created. Every testimonial, every subscriber who shares your work, every story of transformation adds bricks to your authority wall.

You don’t crown yourself. Your audience does, through trust.

So if authority isn’t a crown, how do you practice it? I like to think of it in three habits:

1. Authority of Presence
Show up when you say you will. Whether it’s your weekly newsletter or your promise of daily tips, your presence demonstrates reliability. Authority begins when people know: you’ll be there.

2. Authority of Proof
Stories, data, results — proof is what grounds authority. Share your experiments, your client wins, even your failures (and what you learned). Proof isn’t about perfection; it’s about transparency.

3. Authority of Perspective
Facts are everywhere. What makes you authoritative is how you interpret them. Share your unique lens, your synthesis, your “why this matters.” Perspective elevates you from “just another voice” to a trusted guide.

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I once followed two creators in the email space.

·       The first wore the crown approach: every post declared themselves an authority. Big claims. Glossy graphics. But behind the curtain, the content was shallow — recycled advice you could find anywhere. They faded quickly.

·       The second treated authority as practice. Week after week, they shared thoughtful breakdowns of campaigns they’d tested. When something flopped, they admitted it and explained why. Their authority grew slowly, but it stuck. Today, they’re one of the most trusted voices in their niche.

Why? Because they practiced authority instead of claiming it.

The inbox is one of the best places to practice authority — better than social, better than ads. Why?

Because email is intimate. It lands where people talk to family, friends, and colleagues. There’s no algorithm dictating what gets seen. If you show up with value, you’re invited back.

Here’s how to practice authority in your emails:

·       Teach something small but actionable in each issue. Authority grows when people use your advice and get results.

·       Share behind-the-scenes truth. Authority doesn’t come from looking perfect but from showing your process.

·       Create consistency in voice and design. Authority feels steady when your audience knows what to expect.

Each email becomes another brick in the wall of trust.

If you’ve been waiting for the crown moment — the milestone, the follower count, the “you’ve arrived” — it’s time to reset. Authority isn’t waiting for you at the top of the mountain. It’s forged in the climb.

This week, ask yourself:

·       What’s one way I can show authority instead of claiming it?

·       How can I bring more presence, proof, or perspective into my next email?

·       Where am I hiding behind “not ready yet,” when in truth, authority grows from the practice of sharing now?

Don’t wait for the crown. Practice authority this week.

👉 Write one email that demonstrates presence, proof, and perspective. Teach, share, and interpret.

If you’d like a framework to follow, I’ve created the Authority Practice Blueprint — a simple template that helps you structure your emails to build credibility without bragging. [Access it here].

Authority isn’t a crown you wear once.
It’s a practice you return to daily.

—   From Inbox to Income

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